Calling People to the Islamic Creed

Once Allah has granted a Muslim knowledge of this creed and enabled him to hold fast to it, he is duty-bound to invite others to it, so that through it they may be brought from darkness into light. The Most High says:

“There is no compulsion in religion. Guidance has become distinct from error. Whoever rejects the taghut (false deities) and believes in Allah has grasped the firmest handhold, one that will never break. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. Allah is the Protector of those who believe; He brings them out of darkness into light. As for those who disbelieve, their protectors are the taghut; they lead them out of light into darkness. Such people are the inhabitants of the Fire, and they shall remain therein forever.” 1

Calling to this Islamic creed was the first step of every messenger’s mission; they never began with anything else. Concerning them Allah, Exalted be He, says: “We certainly sent a messenger to every nation, declaring, ‘Worship Allah and shun the taghut.’” 2

Each messenger said to his people, as the very first call: “Worship Allah; you have no god other than Him,” 3—words proclaimed by Noah, Hūd, Ṣāliḥ, Shuʿayb, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and all the rest—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon them all.

Therefore, whoever has learned this creed and lives by it must not keep it to himself; rather, he should summon people to it with wisdom and gracious admonition, for this is the path of the messengers and of those who follow them.